A proposed new tax on developments which could raise £9m to help pay for schools, roads and open spaces in Breckland is going out for public consultation this week.

The new charge – known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – is a fixed amount which developers of new housing schemes and some new business and leisure facilities would have to pay to fund infrastructure improvements.

The proposal would divide the district into two zones, with developments in one area charged £60 per square metre but those in the other not charged anything.

The zones have been drawn up based on whether the levy would risk preventing developments from going ahead.

Areas with higher house prices, such as Attleborough and most rural parishes in the east, fall into the £60 zone, while Dereham, Watton, Swaffham, Thetford and areas in the west are in the no-charge zone.

Under the current system, any money raised from developments must be spent in the local area, but under the CIL a maximum of 25pc of the levy would be reserved for the local community. The rest could be spent elsewhere in the district, including areas where developments are not taxed.

Phillip Duigan, who represents Toftwood on Breckland Council, said that fact the town was in the proposed no-tax zone would tempt developers to build in the area, but they would face a problem of limited space.

He said: 'It's one of those things where it is not a disaster that we are not getting it, but it would have been useful to be able to take advantage of it. We would have liked some extra money, but how much extra development we want is another thing.'

Although four of the five market towns would be in the no-charge zone, some surrounding parishes including Narborough, Ashill, Shipdham and Carbrooke would be in the £60 zone.

Affordable housing and developments by charities for charitable use are exempt.

The CIL has been brought in by the government to raise extra money for infrastructure projects such as transport, schools, health facilities and open spaces.

Breckland Council believes there is currently a £22m gap between the cost of infrastructure needed in the district in the future, and the amount of money available.

The public consultation on the first draft of the charges will run until May 28, with a second consultation in the autumn. The scheme will have to be approved by an independent inspector before it is due to be adopted by the council in April 2014.